The Portland daily press., 1887-04-06
NEW FREIGHT RATES.
The Maine Central Adopts an Entire
ly New Schedule.
A Rise of Fifty Per Gent. in the Ban
gor Tariff.
General Reduction in the Rates of
Certain Glasses of Freight.

discriminate against points where there is
no water communication, the management
have decided to change throughout their
schedule of freight rates. The new sched-
ule went into effect yesterday. Passenger
rates have not been disturbed except where
persons or firms have enjoyed special rates,
all of which have been done away with. No
special tickets will hereafter be issued at
less than mileage rates.
General Freight Agent w. S. Eaton and
his assistants have taken much care in max
ing up the new schedule, which is large
pamphlet of twenty-three pages. The most
important feature of this new schedule is
the increasing of rates at points where there
is water competition. Last winter in the
Legislative debates much was said about
the freight charges of the Maine Central 1t
was said that it cost about twice as much to
send cask of nails from Portland to Water
vile as from Portland to Bangor. and that the
cost of getting a hogshead of molasses from
Portland to Carmel was twice as much as it
cost to carry it right along several miles
further to Bangor In reply to the repre-
sensations of the men who felt themselves
aggrieved by the determinations in favor Of
Bangor, the representatives of the Maine
Central at that time declared that the low
rates to Bangor were the result of water
competition, and that any 'long and short
haul' regulation would raise the Bangor rates
rather than lower the rates for intermediate
points. The application of the interstate
commerce law, which is now made by the
general freight agent confirms this prophecy.
The old rates at points where there is water
competition, lower formerly than the rates
for shorter distances, have been advanced so
per cent, or even more. The points chiefly
affected are Bangor, Belfast, Ellsworth and
places on the Kennebec river. The rates to
and from Bangor have been increased about
80 per cent. on an average, and about the
same at the other points mentioned. These
are the places for whose benefit the road has
been accused of discriminating. Now the
rates are raised to figures as high as to and
from points this side. From Newport and
Etna and other towns, there have been COM
plants that the road charged them higher
rates than Bangor, and they lost trade in con-
sequence. This charge can no longer be
made. The general freight agent, however,
says he don't think those towns are any bet
ter off; for to compensate them for the dis
elimination, made in the past, certain con-
cessions which the road has made can no
longer be made. All special rates have been
discontinued, and the freight officials have
sent out over GOO letters to customers who
have had special rates, notifying them that
they have been cancelled. The change in the
rate of charge from Portland to Bangor is
illustrated by the rate on flour. 1t was under
the old rate fifteen cents. The new rate is
thirty-six cents.
To offset these increases there have been
some reductions made in first and second
class rates. Freight is arbitrarily classified
into four classes-frst being the highest and
fourth the lowest tariff. In the fourth or
cheapest class are placed only few articles,
like agricultural implements, when a full car
load, lumber, brick Gear load, cabbages Gear
load, oxen and horses Gear load) In the
third class are placed apples in barrels, ashes,
flour, corn, etc. In the second class are
placed apples in crates, betting, books in
BOXES, cotton and wooden goods, cotton in
bales, butter and eggs, fresh meat, poultry,
ETC., etc. In the first class are placed bat
ting, bells, cotton waste, ETC. In full car
first class freight takes second class rates,
second takes third, and third takes fourth.
In first and second class freights, under this
classification, there has been made general
reduction over the entire line, amounting in
some cases to 6 cents per 100 pounds Spe-
CA mileage rates are given for cordwood,
coal, PIG iron, sand and lumber from manu-
1acturers., Within the State mileage rate
for freight is arranged. For every 100 pounds
OF freight the mileage rate in cents is indi-
Gated by the following table, showing class
and rate per distance:
Class Miles, Niles. Miles, II Niles IL Mics 70 Mics loo
s sisss .d e 3. 3 II e 7s q
Fourth Fourth .Cs % q. .oS % ds i ls
All changes apply to both outgoing and
incoming freight.
Between Portland and Lewiston and Au-
burn the rates are as little affected as any
where on the line. There has been pool
between the Maine Central and Grand Trunk
on the Lewiston and Auburn business. This
is ended by the new law. The corporation
rate on cotton goods will be advanced "a
cents per 100 pounds for less than carload
lots. On carload lots, there will be no
change. The shoe rate has been advanced
from 12a cents per cwt to IS cents. The
rates on general merchandise have not been
finally determined. The old pool rates are
rs cents per cwt. for first class freight, %
cents for second class, 20 cents for third
class, and 16 cents for fourth class. The
new rates probably will be about the same.
There will be no change in the grain and
flour rates to and from Lewiston and Au-
burn.
The new rates from Aroostook county to
Portland are the same as the old. General
merchandise rates between Aroostook and
Boston have been advanced cents per 100
pounds.
On bulk freights from Aroostook to Bos-
ton, there has been very slight advance.
Heretofore the Aroostook rates to Portland
have been lower than to points between
Portland and Bangor. This discrimination
has been stopped, and the rate from Aroos-
took to Bangor or Wateryille is no higher
than from Aroostsok to Portland. This
change. like all the changes, applies both
ways.
The general agent gives it as his opinion
that Aroostook win not feel the changes
much. The most of her products are CLASH
fed as bulk freights-such as hay, potatoes,
starch and lumber-and ON these the ad-
vance has been very slight.
Thus it will be seen that the changes made
are considerable. There is prospect how
ever, that the new schedule may be sus-
pended in its operation, in case the Inter-
State Commerce Commissioners decide to
suspend for while the long and short haul
clause of the railroad bill.
Indian Association.